A frail 75y/o female diagnosed with a right hip intertrochan…

A frail 75y/o female diagnosed with a right hip intertrochanteric fracture eight weeks status post open reduction and internal fixation with a metal plate and pinning.  The patient currently has pain with hip flexion and abduction.  Using a hot pack is an acceptable modality for this patient.

Heating an area of the body generally causes vasodilation lo…

Heating an area of the body generally causes vasodilation locally, and to a lesser extent in areas distant from the site of application.  This distant response can result in a decrease in cerebral blood flow enough to cause a patient to faint during the application of thermotherapy.  The appropriate response from the PTA treating the patient would be to: